Technology trends 2026: everything IT Managers need to know

As we head into 2026, exciting IT trends are revolutionising the way we do business every day. And while some of these have become strategic technology trends for savvy SMBs and companies looking to differentiate and increase efficiency, they've also been mere afterthoughts for others who will no doubt get left behind.

If you haven't already taken notice of the way your competitors are adopting these new technologies, then you might want to make 2026 the year you make a change. These trends have moved from 'highly innovative' to 'mainstream' and can create a wealth of opportunities for SMBs looking to increase efficiency and capitalise on them.

So what are the hottest technology trends you need to know about in 2026? Here are a few to get you thinking...

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The ability of AI to enhance the customer experience and decision-making processes is now fundamentally redesigning enterprise business models.

Machine learning and AI solutions that focus on targeted tasks are high on the agenda for businesses of all sizes. For SMBs, this could be as simple as AI that assists marketers in better qualifying leads, or chatbots that engage with and resolve customer inquiries. According to McKinsey's 2025 State of AI report, 88% of organisations now regularly use AI in at least one business function, with 23% already scaling agentic AI systems across their enterprises.

AI in 2026 is creating opportunities for SMBs with consumer-facing roles by automating repetitive tasks and consolidating inputs from multiple systems into a single central place. With the right managed IT services, your organisation can navigate AI adoption and integration with confidence.

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented Reality (AR), the technology that overlays digital elements onto a physical landscape, is creating opportunities for enterprises across a myriad of industries. The global AR market reached USD 83.65 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 599.59 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 37.9%.

For example, an architect might use AR to overlay impressions of their home design right onto the client's block of land, or a retail furniture store might use AR to perfectly place new furniture into an empty home to satisfy a would-be buyer. Imagine transforming your bland boardroom into a plush-looking conference facility for your next video conference pitch.

AR has now been realised by mainstream business. Smartphones integrate AR capabilities, and companies are implementing AR to create opportunities, close deals, and differentiate themselves from their competitors. Enterprise applications in manufacturing, healthcare, and training are leading market growth, with workforce development applications growing at 24% annually.

AR is changing the user experience now and into the future, so now is a good time to think about how it might change or disrupt your industry, and what you can do to get the most out of it.

The Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) has moved well beyond watercooler conversation into mainstream business reality. According to IoT Analytics, 21.1 billion connected devices are now in use globally in 2025, with projections reaching 39 billion by 2030.

The new world sees a multitude of devices connecting and communicating with one another. How does this affect day-to-day life and business?

Let's say your alarm clock pings at 6.30 am and tells the coffee machine to boil; or en route to a meeting, traffic is heavy, so your car sends a message to your colleagues notifying them of the delay.

IoT is opening up a large, wriggly can of opportunities for SMBs and large corporations; with so many devices talking to each other, there is more data, and with more data, we can get insight into so much more, like consumer mapping and buying behaviours.

This alone is helping shape how we do things, from how we market and promote products and services to how we track and manage inventory. It also presents opportunities for SMBs to think outside the square and outsmart their competitors. However, with increased connectivity comes increased security risk—making robust network security solutions essential for protecting your IoT infrastructure.

Smart workplaces

Digitisation has paved the way for remote and work-from-home roles. Not only do smart workplaces help reduce a company's carbon footprint, but they also promote more flexible working environments for staff who can be dotted all around the world whilst collaborating. This trend continues to evolve in 2026 as core elements shift from being innovative to mainstream.

Web-based real-time communication tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have replaced desktop programmes, and video-enabled conferencing stations are now de rigueur for most workplaces. IoT-enabled offices are paving the way for efficient working environments as devices continue to talk to each other to streamline procedures and increase efficiency both onsite and remotely.

Kyocera's ICT services support smart workplace transformation with infrastructure solutions that enable seamless connectivity and collaboration across distributed teams.

Digital collaboration

As we move through 2026, the focus on document management solutions continues to intensify. Companies are shedding antiquated systems and procedures to make way for holistic information management that focuses on sharing, utilisation and management of all information across departments within an organisation. This also demands better security across all platforms.

The enterprise content management market reached USD 37.88 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 13%, with organisations increasingly prioritising document management and collaboration improvements.

Employees now expect a multi-channel user experience across most touchpoints in the workplace, where centralised, shared files, calendars, real-time video conferencing, and instant messaging are woven into the fabric of mainstream business.

KYOCERA Document Solutions provides document management solutions with ECOSYS technology to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) and minimise the impact on the environment, while delivering greater productivity, reliability and uptime.